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Mapa Mental por Jamie Sword, actualizado hace más de 1 año
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Creado por Jamie Sword
hace más de 9 años
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REFERENDUMS
- What is a Referendum?
- A referendum is a vote in
which the electorate can
express a view on a specific
issue of pubic policy
- It is a way of exercising direct
democracy within a system of
representative democracy
- Referendums tend to be 'top down', the
legislature decides on the issue, date and
the question
- Another form of direct democracy is an initiative, these
are inspired more by 'grass roots' in which a person or a
group may propose legislation by securing the signatures
of a required number of voters, which must then be put to
the electorate- e.g. marijuana in Colorado and Washington
- Another form of direct democracy is an initiative, these
are inspired more by 'grass roots' in which a person or a
group may propose legislation by securing the signatures
of a required number of voters, which must then be put to
the electorate- e.g. marijuana in Colorado and Washington
- A referendum is a vote in
which the electorate can
express a view on a specific
issue of pubic policy
- Examples:
- ADVANTAGES
- Increase political
participation in
decision making-
could rejuvenate a
system which
appears to have
lost the
confidence of its
citizens. Scot 85%
- Overcome flaws in the mandate theory-corrects assumption that
voters agree with all a party's policies. Situations can arise where a
significant policy change is needed e.g. Iraq- 2003, 2 years after 2001
election, no one saw it coming- such decisions can therefore gain
legitimacy.
- An educational device- allow an area of policy to be debated and discussed, opening significant viewpoints to consider.
#Indyref was everywhere, NE Assembly was rigorously debated in local press. These people are perfectly capable of
making an adequate decision.
- Legitimize significant
constitutional changes
and act as a weapon of
entrenchment for these
changes as they can only
be overturned by
extraordinary process as it
is the will of the people.
- Can settle an issue, for example the
1975 election on the EC, and can fix
divides in parties such as Wilson's
Labour in the same year.
- Initiatives can protect
individual's rights. E.g.
California's Prop 13, capped
Property Taxes and required
2/3 vote in state legislature
to raise taxes
- Referendums are popular
with voters, economic model
of democracy would suggest
they are beneficial.
Referendums on big
constitutional changes
produce high turnouts e.g. Indyref
- Increase political
participation in
decision making-
could rejuvenate a
system which
appears to have
lost the
confidence of its
citizens. Scot 85%
- DISADVANTAGES
- Undermines
Representative
Democracy- Thatcher
thought it would 'bind
and fetter Parliamentary
Sovereignty'
- Elitist Critique- electorate less informed than
professional politicians. Dangerous if let loose on
issues such as race, e.g. Switzerland minarets.
Incompatible with Burkean model of
representation. Yes and No doesn't necessarily
answer a complex issue.
- Tend not to be about the issue in question, e.g. Indyref
'vote yes to end privatisation of NHS Scotland' despite
fully devolved powers on health already existing
- Referendums can be used as a tactical device,
referendums will only happen when the Govt. of the
day thinks they are going to win. Furthermore, only
reason for AV referendum was to tempt the Lib Dems
into coalition with the Tories. 2017 just to satisfy the
Tory right.
- Governments may not accept the
results, e.g. France and Dutch on
EU Constitution, rebranded and
referendum not offered- went
ahead anyway.
- Governability Crisis-
direct democracy can
contribute to
dysfunction- e.g.
California
- Referendums are dominated by elite
groups- hijacked by wealthy and
corporates e.g. California . Murdoch
unkeen on EU- any referendum would
severely unfairly reported
- De Toqueville called
referendums the 'Tyranny
of the Majority'- abuse
minorities e.g. Switzerland
- Little public desire to participate- despite Indyref 85%, only 10% for
Sunderland Mayor. Low Turnouts undermine legitimacy and lead to
'tyranny of the minority'.
- Undermines
Representative
Democracy- Thatcher
thought it would 'bind
and fetter Parliamentary
Sovereignty'
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